Taximeter



June 19, 1928. 1,674,322

c. A. DUBOIS TAXIMETER Filed April 5, 1923 In ven for CHARLES ALHEQT' W50/S Patented June 19, 1928.

UNITED STATES `PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES ALBERT DUBOIS, 0F PARIS, FRANCE, ASSIGNOR T0 THE SOCIT PARISIENNE DE MECANIQUE GENERALEQOF PARIS, FRANCE.

TAXIMETER.

Applicaticn led April 5, 1823, Serial No. 630,141', and in FrancerApril 15. 1922.

The present invention relates to taximeters and `more particularly to a Construction tor transforming the continuous movements of the mileage or time mechanisms, into an intermittent motion, acting on the usual drums for indicating the. tariff.

This intermediate mechanism is characterized by` simplicity of structure and the absence of springs or similar devices so that there is small opportunity for the arrangelment to become disordered.

` VK'I'he'in-vention is capable of manufacture and application at small cost and provides a safe and accurate medium for accomplishing the purpose intended. 7 Y

.In/the drawings, wherein similar reference characters designate correspondingr parts throughout the 'several views z,

Figure 1 isa View in section showing the shaft ,andwconnected parts rotated during travel, the distance or time operated devices. f f f VFigures 2 and 3 show the mechanism for converting the slowv continuous motion of the shaft into abrupt intermittent motion acting on the tariff drums.

'Referringfto igure 1, the numeral 1 indi- -cured thereto in any desired manner.l The sleeve 1 hasat its free end, peripheral'teeth engaging in :clutching relation the 'adjacent peripheral teeth of a sleeve 2.

The'dise 1 is'loosely mounted on a shaft 3 adapted to 'be rotated vselectively by the vmileage or time translating mechanisms. registering on the 'basis ot distance, the shaft 3' is operated by a suitable mechanismcontrolled by theV forward motion of the vehicle and the time mechanism is lreleased.` p l The sha-ft 3 is secu-red' to the sleeve 2 by a pinstsoy that operation of the shaft at'all times `Will operate the sleeve'2A andconsequentlythe disc 1. a

-1 There timeV is a'factor, motion is imparted to the shaftV` and usually at a greater rate` by meansot thegear Wheel 5 thereon. This gear fvvheel is operated by a suitable clock work. The Wheel-5 has a sleeve 6 provided at its freefend With' teeth adapted to have `clutching relation with corresponding teeth onthe adjacent endof the sleeve 2, whereby the sleeve 2 is rotated and serves thus to transmit the increased speed to the disc 1.

The mileage transmission mechanism is released When the machine is operating on a time basis.

Mounted on the disc 1 and secured for rotation therewith is a star Wheel 21 and a Washer 23. The latter is attached to a disc 22', as shown. Y c

'The discl is provided in its periphery -vwith anotch'c adapted to receive a paivl 24 mounted yonan arm.v indicated as a Whole at 25,`of the transmission mechanism to be later described.` Vhen the meter is started the; disc l is rotated, but this Will have no effect on the recording system until the pawl 24 drops into the notch e. The relation of the notchin the periphery of the disc 1 to the paivl maybe regulated by shifting the disc in accordance with the standard distance or time used for computing the initial charge.' lYhenthe meter stops, the disc is turned to return the disc 1 and notch e =to normal position.

When the Ynotch is entered bythe pawl scribed is broughtvi-nto operation andthe radditional charge is recordedas the vehicle 1s used. cates a disc having a. sleeve 1 integral or se- Assuming that theinitial' standard distance ortirne has been traveled, when the pa'Wl-"f21engagcs the notch e, a shoulder on the arm 25 drops automatically into engage- 'l'he arm 27 ispivotedat one end as at 28 and near its other endhas an up'standing spacing member 29 which bearsagainst a bar 30 piv- `oted 'at 31.

The bar 30 at one end has a paivl 32. At a point in advance of the spacing membe`r29 isprovided a pivoted counter paw] 152. Mounted on bar 30 is a. pawl 30 extending downward While the lever 27 has a similar upwardly extending pawl 271./

The pawls 32 and 152 engage similar ratchet teeth'33 While the pawls 30, and 271 'engage similar ratchet teeth 3st arranged con- "trary to the-teeth 33. The'teeth 33 and 34 form a double ratchet secured on a shaft 36. The operation of the shaft is accomplished bythe engagement of the Vpa-Wl 32 with the ratchet 33, and this rotation of shaft 36 turns the tariff indica-ting drums which are mounted on the shaft. f

Assuming that the vehicle has covered a 'the intermediate mechanism now to be dea Y the initial charge as regulated by the rela-. tion of the notch c and pawl 24 and that standard distance or time corresponding to the two latter elements are in engagement, the shoulder on the arm 25 will drop into engagement with a tooth of the wheel21l and the registering of the additional mile-V age or time will begin.

When the shoulder drops into the star wheel the arm 26 is moved downwardly and the lever27, spacing bar 29 and lever 30 are thus also swung downwardly. The pawl 301, on the lever 30 engages the ratchet 34 andwhenthe shoulderis moving out of the star wheel, and the said arms are raised, the pawl 271 engagesthe ratchet '34.

It will thus be seenthat as the Vstarwheel is -rotated its engagementA with thej shoulder on the lever 26V will serve to .successively raise and lower Ithe several levers. As the lever 26 is swungV upwardly,rit operates to swing the lever 27 and spacing bar 29 and the lever 30 bearing on the spacing bar, upwardly; The pawlr271 is brought into engagement with the ratchet to prevent rotation thereof and the counter pawl 152 is similarly engaged with the ratchet. VAs the shoulder rides into one of the notches, the

lever 26 is lowered; the pawl 271 is disengaged and at once the spacing bar. being lowered, the lever 30 carrying the pawl 32 swings downwardly to allow the pawl 32 to snap into 'engagement with the ratchet and turn it the distance of one tooth.` Immediately thereafter the pawl 301 is brought into engagement with the ratchet and there' can be no further rotation of the ratchet by reason of this engagementand the engagement of the pawl 1521eXcept during the successive lowering ofthe levers by the star wheel when the pawl 32 is snapped into engagement with .the ratchet to turn it. Y

1 In this manner the slowcontinuous motion transmitted to thedisc 1 is'turned into an abrupt or intermittent motion actuating the sha-ft carrying the tariffl drums. vThis intermediate mechanism lis efficient and dependable and it is to be noted that no springs or similar devices are employed. The provision ofthe pawls and the `double ratchet mechanism serves to prevent any tampering with the meter by the driver for the reason that the ratchet is only free to rotate in one direction at that instant when the pawl 32 snapsinto the ratchetto turn it, since thereafter either the pawl 301 or the pawl 271 is selectively engaged with the ratchet to prevent rotation.

In Vorder .to set theV device to zero as when a trip is completed, the lever 146 is thrown outwardly on its pivot 147'by' the cam 145. .At its upper end, thel lever` 146 engages a bevelled portion 30 on the end -of the lever 30 and will thus move this lever upwardly. The releasing lever also engages a pin 148 36 when being turned by the ratchetmechaonism., V

on the pawl 32 and serves to draw lthe pawl byacting on the lever 30, the pawls V32 and 301 are removed from engagement with the ratchet; valso the counter pawl may be disengaged when lever 30 is raised by the releasing member by reason of the spring 1522 connected to the "upper end 1521 of saidY counter pawl. .The releasing lever at the same time acts on a pin 149 formed on the lever 26 and by means of lugs moves this lever to free the pawl 271 from the ratchet.,

Itwill be seen that I-vhave provided simple construction and one whichobviates the usesof any springs. The transformation of the continuous movement into intermitfy a compact arrangement, and there isY no way in which the meter may' be tampered with by a driver when in operation. i

What I claim is: f 1- 1 1. In a taXimeter, mechanism for transforming slow movement ofy distance-time actuated devicesinto abrupt movements upon a. tariff drum, comprising in combination a shaft rotated Y. by one of said devices, a star wheelsecured to said shaft, an oscillatinsV lever, a shoulder` provided upon said oscillating lever cooperating with the teeth of said star wheel, a secondoscillating lever, apawl connected to'one end of said vsecond oscillating lever, a ratchet Y cooperating with said pawl mounted upon the shaft of the tariff drum, a spacing member provided upon said first lever whereby slowly to lift said second oscillating lever and return said pawl rearwardly, and a holding member movable withthe first lever andrestraining forward movement ofthe ratchet for a por-` tionfof the descending movement of the lever, so as to prevent an immediate'descent of said second lever. 1 Y v- 1 r2. In a. taX-imeter, mechanismv for transforming Slow Vmovement of distance-time actuated devicesinto abrupt movements upon'a tariffl drum, comprising inV combination a shaft rotated byV one of said devices, i

a star wheel secured to said shaft, an oscillating lever, a shoulder provided uponsaid oscillating lever cooperating'with the teeth of said star wheel, a second oscillating lever,

a pawl connected to one VendV of said second Vout of engagement with theratchet. Thus tent motion actuating the tariff drums is by 1 cooperating with said ratchet after the start of the abrupt movements so as to prevent the tariff from turning further than a pre- 10 determined distance.

In testimony thereof I alX my signature.

CHARLES ALBERT DUBOIS. 

